POINTS TO REMEMBER 

Natural instincts, e.g. herding guarding and protection in all breeds independent of origin, and are exhibited to a greater or lesser degree. These instincts have been selectively bred for within many breeds, and will show up regardless of the intelligence level of the dog.

Some individuals can exhibit these characteristics poorly even in supposedly 'aggressive' breeds, while others may over-exhibit these characteristics.

Dogs that are too sharp (too quick to react to a situation) and/or too aggressive do not make good children's pets, nor are they the ideal dog for a novice to handle. A large, powerful aggressive dog (of any breed, of any group) can, in the hands of a total novice, be a disaster - it invariably leads to someone being hurt or bitten.

Such a dog then becomes a danger to its owner and spoils the reputation of the breed. The same sort of animal, in the hands of an experienced trainer or owner used to the breed, can have that determination/aggression controlled and turned into a keenness for work.

My advise is to read up on the breed that you are interested in. There are plenty of breed specialty books that trace the origins and development of the breed. This will help you understand the basis for much of your dogs behavior patterns, and hopefully guide you on the selection of the breed of dog on the first place.

There are also books that cover all the breeds in a general fashion and these can be useful in selecting which breed to choose. Unfortunately, many specialist books are very out of date about diets which are changing constantly as technology advances; some of the older diets produce horrendous bone problems in many of the heavier breeds. Much of the information about whelping, vaccinations and worming given in these books is similarly out of date.

Information contained from - "The New Dog Owner's Manual" - Written by Dr Karen Hedberg